Orthopaedic Spine Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Rheumatol Int. 2013 Feb;33(2):523-7. doi: 10.1007/s00296-011-2210-6. Epub 2011 Nov 9.
We investigated whether the angiogenic profile, which is based on the local expression and systemic levels of angiogenic growth factors (VEGF, Ang-1, Ang-2, and the corresponding receptors), differs between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients. We determined the expression of VEGF, Ang-1, and Ang-2 together with its receptors (VEGFR-1/-2 and Tie2) in synovium tissue (ST) and muscular tissue (MT) from patients with RA and OA using quantitative PCR. Tissue samples were obtained from 15 RA and 19 OA patients during total knee arthroplasty. Control MT samples (n = 10) were obtained during spinal surgery. Results are correlated to VEGF and angiopoietin serum levels via ELISA measurements. The VEGF expressions in ST and serum levels were significantly higher in RA patients than in OA patients (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 expression in ST from RA patients were significantly higher than in OA patients (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05). The relative concentration of angiopoietins (Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio) was significantly increased in RA (P < 0.01). Serum levels for Ang-2 showed no significant differences. Statistical analysis showed a significant higher level of Tie2 in RA patients (P < 0.001). Analysis of local levels of VEGF, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, Ang-1, Ang-2, and Tie2 in the muscular tissue showed no significant difference between RA and OA patients. These results underline the importance of pro-angiogenic growth factor levels for RA corroborating the assumption that VEGF and angiopoietins play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA.
我们研究了血管生成谱是否在类风湿关节炎（RA）和骨关节炎（OA）患者之间存在差异，该谱基于局部表达和系统水平的血管生成生长因子（VEGF、Ang-1、Ang-2 和相应的受体）。我们使用定量 PCR 测定了 RA 和 OA 患者滑膜组织（ST）和肌肉组织（MT）中 VEGF、Ang-1 和 Ang-2 及其受体（VEGFR-1/-2 和 Tie2）的表达。在全膝关节置换术期间从 15 名 RA 和 19 名 OA 患者中获得组织样本。在脊柱手术期间从 10 名对照 MT 样本中获得组织样本。结果通过 ELISA 测量与 VEGF 和血管生成素血清水平相关。ST 和血清中的 VEGF 表达在 RA 患者中明显高于 OA 患者（P < 0.05）。此外，RA 患者的 ST 中 VEGFR-1 和 VEGFR-2 表达明显高于 OA 患者（P < 0.001 和 P < 0.05）。RA 中血管生成素（Ang-1/Ang-2 比值）的相对浓度明显升高（P < 0.01）。血清中 Ang-2 水平无明显差异。统计分析显示 RA 患者的 Tie2 水平明显升高（P < 0.001）。RA 和 OA 患者的肌肉组织中 VEGF、VEGFR-1、VEGFR-2、Ang-1、Ang-2 和 Tie2 的局部水平分析显示无显著差异。这些结果强调了促血管生成生长因子水平对 RA 的重要性，证实了 VEGF 和血管生成素在 RA 发病机制中发挥重要作用的假设。
